On 1 May 2004, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia – the EU 10 – joined the European Union. Three years later, on 1 January 2007, Bulgaria and Romania joined, and, on 1 July 2013, Croatia became the 28th member of the EU.

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Poland – A partner country for Switzerland’s contribution to EU enlargement

Switzerland's contribution for Poland is CHF 489 million. By 2017, 58 projects designed to reduce economic and social disparities will have been implemented in Poland. Around 40% of the funds will be allocated to the less-developed regions of southern Poland. Implementation of projects is overseen by the Swiss contribution office in Warsaw, which is in close contact with the National Coordination Unit in the Ministry of Development.

Focus Areas

In addition to the thematic focus, part of the enlargement contribution is also to be geographically concentrated. The regions of „Lubelskie", „Malapolskie", „Podkarpackie" and „Swietokrzyskie" are vested with priority. With a per capita gross domestic product lying at approx. 35% of the EU-25 average, these regions boast the lowest development indicators in Poland. At least 40% of the enlargement contribution to Poland is to go to the benefit of these regions either directly or indirectly.

Documents
(17)

Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2016

The report shows the results and the state of progress, e.g. in the dual vocational training programme in Slovakia, the fight against human trafficking in Bulgaria and Romania, the rehabilitation of a port in Latvia, and a venture capital fund in Hungary. In addition, it covers the national programmes which have come to a close in Estonia and Slovenia and presents the new programme in Croatia.

Swiss Enlargement Contribution Annual Report 2015

The annual report contains an overview of concrete results and the status of project implementation. Over 500 doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers from the new EU member states received scholarships in 2015 to do research in Switzerland. Bulgaria introduced legislation that provides for outpatient care based on the Swiss Spitex model, and Slovenia halved the heating and electricity bills of schools through energy efficiency renovations and renewable energies.

Evaluation: Swiss Contribution to the Enlarged European Union

Evaluation Report on the Swiss Contribution 2015: Key points in brief

An independent evaluation has confirmed the federal authorities have achieved good results in implementing Switzerland’s enlargement contribution to the new EU member states. This report summarises the key findings of the evaluation and outlines the progress and achievements of the Swiss contribution.

The Swiss Enlargement Contribution

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs present an interim balance sheet on the first five years since the approval of the Enlargement Contribution to the new 10 EU-Member States. The projects are to be implemented within another five year period, i.e., by 2017.

News (25)

The 10-year implementation period for Switzerland’s enlargement
contribution to the 10 central and eastern European countries that
joined the EU in 2004 came to an end on 14 June 2017. Under the
contribution, Parliament approved a total of CHF 1 billion to
implement 210 projects which have helped reduce economic and social
disparities among broad sections of the population living in the EU.

Poland has been demonstrating a keen interest in renewable energies
and raising people's awareness of climate protection. That is why
Switzerland has been supporting ten projects aimed at increasing
energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies in Poland over
the last five years. It is also the fifth time that Switzerland has
hosted a delegation of representatives from Poland interested in
finding out more about our energy policy and expertise in this
field. Given that Switzerland’s contribution to the EU’s ten new
member states will end in June 2017, the most recent visit of the
Polish delegation was even more important in terms of maintaining
partnerships between the two countries and Switzerland’s activities
in Poland.

On 11 September, a new Transport Hub was opened in Legionowo near
Warsaw, improving the quality and operational effectiveness of the
local and regional public transport system. Switzerland provided 85%
of the total cost of the investment, which has been the largest in
Legionowo’s history.

On 13th of October, we invite you to a conference on “Municipal
investments in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency –
environmental and socio-economic benefits”, which will be an
occasion to share experiences from implementation of projects that
received co-financing under the Swiss Contribution to Poland.

Lebork has completed the construction of a heat and power
cogeneration plant on schedule and connected it to the city's
district heating network. The plant now provides 40% of Lebork's
energy needs for hot water and heating. At the same time it
generates electricity for the local electricity network.

The closing ceremony of the Sciex scholarship programme was held on
25 September 2015. Thanks to this programme, more than 500 doctoral
and post-doctoral students could visit Switzerland for a limited
period to conduct and expand their research.

From 14 to 17 September SDC Director-General Manuel Sager visited
Poland, where he attended a conference on Switzerland's contribution
to the enlarged EU. The visit was also an opportunity to meet with
colleagues from the Swiss contribution office and with project
partners, and to visit various projects in the field.

Switzerland supports several health projects in Poland. Their
objectives include promoting oral health in pre-school, preventing
hepatitis C infections, and reducing alcohol, tobacco and drug use
during pregnancy. According to the mid-term reviews, the projects are
well on track and are showing encouraging results.

With 86 fatalities per million inhabitants every year, Poland –
together with Luxembourg – ranks second among the most dangerous
countries in Europe for road safety. On 6 February 2015, the Polish
parliament adopted a law to improve road safety, which was signed by
the Polish president on 2 April 2015. The road safety project, part of
Switzerland's enlargement contribution, provided Swiss expertise to
support this process.

17.12.2014  Media releaseThe Federal Council has opened the consultation on the continuation of
the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe
(Eastern Europe Cooperation Act). The current act is still valid until
the end of May 2017. A timely prolongation should enable the seamless
continuation of cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the
former Soviet Union. The consultation will last until 31 March 2015.

19.09.2014  Media releaseA number of staff changes have been announced for several Swiss
representations abroad and at the head office of the Federal Department
of Foreign Affairs. The changes will take place in 2015 as part of the
usual transfer rotation and on the basis of appointments made by the
Federal Council. The appointment of heads of mission becomes effective
following approval by the respective host state. The Federal Council
thanks those ambassadors entering retirement for their services.

In summer 2014 the majority of the 21 Swiss-Polish partnership
projects will come to a close. An evaluation of 16 Swiss project
partners has concluded that the majority of the projects were carried
out successfully and that the exchange of experience and knowledge was
enriching for both sides.